Building That First Game Table

[Admiral-Badruck]

I have built lots of Tables I will Post a few Pictures for you ladz. And I hope the other vet table builders will post what they have done and give out some helpful hints on how they got it done...

As well as post links to companies that make terrain.

http://www.amera.co.uk/product.php?range=z

I found this place and I am very keen to get some of this stuff... looks cheap as chips... no idea what it ships for but I will be looking into it...

[Primarch]

http://www.amera.co.uk/product.php?range=z
I found this place and I am very keen to get some of this stuff... looks cheap as chips... no idea what it ships for but I will be looking into it...

Its vacuum formed plastic. Its soft, it flexes and paint flakes off it. I bought some a while back, and even when glued down to a solid base it isn't that good.

I know it is expensive, but GW does a lot of good terrain kits. Forgeworld too.
Other than them, there are lots of other places I have found.
http://www.fieldworks.org.uk/orders.htm
http://www.terrainwarehouse.co.uk/categ ... egoryID=-1
http://totalsystemscenic.com/index.php?main_page=index
http://www.antenocitisworkshop.com/gbu0 ... plash.html
http://www.daemonscape.co.uk/index1.html
http://www.wargamesworkshop.co.uk/Produ ... age_29.htm

First and foremost, for any table builder I would recommend getting a good gaming mat. After that, select a theme for your terrain and build along those lines. Dont just make random stuff as then you end up with a random looking table.
Build everything first and then paint everything. This helps keep your colours the same throughout the terrain set. Use cheap paints and a big brush. I used a Citadel Tank Brush to paint most of my terrain, and a house painting brush for the hills etc.

[me_in_japan]

Useful thread, this. (well, it will be eventually.) Good call, badruck

The first thing you should consider when building a games table is:

WHERE AM I GOING TO KEEP THIS?

I cannot stress enough how important this question is. Measure things. Make sure your terrain will fit where you intend to keep it. Make sure that this place is somewhere it doesnt need to be moved often, as terrain is fragile, usually.

First and foremost, for any table builder I would recommend getting a good gaming mat.

Personally I despise gaming mats, but I accept that not everyone wants to nip down the local hardware store and buy wood and nails and start from there (altho I highly recommend it.)

Here's wot I did for my table, which I'll concede is a bit OTT for most folks' tastes. You could simplify the whole shebang a great deal by getting rid of the trenches and making all the hills separate from the table.

*EDIT* actually, step 1 is : Draw a picture. This is very important, as it tends to clarify to you what you really want on your board. Put in measurements if you can, or at least proportions. Spend a few days doodling on this one, as its an important step.

Step 1: Buy wood and nails from your local hardware store. Measure them and cut them to your desired size (note: standard gaming table size is 6x4feet. 3 2x4 pieces is far easier to store.




Cover table in styrofoam. Do not use expanded polysterene, as it is crap in every way. You dont need to cut trenches n stuff. They took ages This is one of the 3 parts I made.



make hills, and add any wee thematic bits that you want for your table. e.g. I added some crystals in the trench walls and floor.




Paint everything in your chosen base coat. (in this case, i was aiming for desert. The paint i used was a general purpose 1liter can of brown acrylic from the hardware store. I mixed in some cement and sand and lots of white glue for texture. (I knew i would drybrush later.)



Now drybrush the crap out of it. Use at least 3 shades, and mix em for intermediates. Use a big brush, again from the hardware store. Mine was about 3" across.

This is how mine finished up, before a few finishing touches, and after doing the crystals n stuff. By far the hardest part was the trenches. If you left them out, I reckon even a n00b could make this table.

[Admiral-Badruck]

Thanks to MIJ for a very interesting look at how to build a table.

I still have pictures up soon.

[The Other Dave]

Dang, MIJ. Makes me wish I had more than a 3-mat area of my own for gaming.

[me_in_japan]

itd be even better if

a) folks ever came down here to game
b) i actually had time to play 40k these days *sigh*

*shrug* I know its a bit OTT for most folks, but the basic construction principles can be applied to any games table, and i figured to use the pics since i had them handy and they demonstrate what im talking about far better than any description.

[jus]

wow, that gaming table's smashing. Make me wish I didn't live in a shoebox.

[me_in_japan]

folks have said they wished they had more room for a table. What nobody realises is that when I took these pictures I was backed up against the wall

*well, Prim, Spev and Badruck know, as they have gamed on that table before. Cosy, ain't it fellas?

[Spevna]

Great table, TINY room!

[Primarch]

I think small rooms are the standard over here. Having played at my place, Badrucks, Pikey's and MiJ's, I can honestly say I never felt like I could breathe out fully in any of them. Badrucks place is probably the best of the bunch, but even then I wouldnt say it's roomy.

Thats one of the reasons why I prefer mats and terrain sets over actualy tables. They are far easier to store away.

Just in case anyone didnt know, I have a modular terrain board (12x 18inch squares) going for free if anyone wants it due to a severe lack of storage space.